Refrigerator for meat markets and the like



Mai. 13,1923.

1,448,361. I c. FREDBERG.

REFRIGERATOR FOR MEAT MARKETS AND THE LIKE. FILED APR.1.1922.

\NVENTDF? v EARL F'REDBERG.

ATTVE.

Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

UNHE .jf; STAT 1,448,361 rear orrics.

CARL FREDBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

REFRIGERATOR FOR MEAT MARKETS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 1,

efrigerator for Meat Markets and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to refrigerators of the type which is commonly used in retail meat markets. Refrigerators of this class provide a combined storage space for the meats and a work-room wherein the preliminary operations attending the sale of meat in retail quantities may be accomplished withoutexposing the meat to higher temperatures.

In conducting a successful retail meat market, it is found necessary, in order that the time of the workmenmay be utilized during all hours of the day, to prepare during the slack hours for rush or peak-load periods by cutting up certain kinds of meat, so that the time required for selling such products may be reduced to a minimum. Obviously the meats thus prepared should be kept under cover and cooled. Moreover, it is desirable that these meats should be displayed for the inspection of the customers. These results, however, cannot be accomplished with present equipment, except by the use of a special refrigerator, the first cost of which is high as is also the cost of maintenance.

It is the general aim ofmy invention to provide in a refrigerator of the type above referred to, an auxiliary refrigerated chamber whereby the desired results above set forth may be accomplished in such a way as to overcome the difficulties accompanying the use of a separate refrigerated show case, and without impairing the efficiency of the refrigerator or detracting from the storage space normally provided thereby.

I'Vith this object in view, the invention contemplates the provision of a display section, arranged upon the front side of the main section of the refrigerator and at the lower portion thereof so as to utilize the refrigeration from the main section, withdrawing the cooling medium from the lower portion thereof, a point of low temperature which in prior constructions is not utilized to maximum advantage.

A specific object of my invention is to provide a construction for my auxiliary or displav section 1922. Serial No. 548,783-

U v of the refrigerator, such that it is readily accessible, serves effectively'to display the meats contained therein, and is capable of being applied to refrigerators already in existence as well as to refrigerators under construction.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a single embodiment only of my invention, but I contemplate that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a meat market refrigerator equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through such a refrigerator. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the display section detached. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the display section.

he main section of the refrigerator may be of any preferred or ordinary construction,

Usually it comprises a main storage chamber or work-room 7 into which entrance may bemade through a door 8, herein ShOWIl at one end of the chamber. Small doors 9 also open into the upper front portion of the chamber. An upper ice chamber 10 has an end door 11 through which ice is inserted, 12 indicates a rack upon which the ice is supported, and 13 and 13 are baffle plates arranged to direct the currents of air to effect the proper circulation thereof first downwardly in the central portion of the refrigerator and then upwardly along the side walls thereof. A plate 14 may be suitably mounted in spaced relation to the front wall of the chamber behind the doors 9, so as to shield the central portion of the chamber from warm air admitted upon the opening of the doors to insert and remove meat suspended upon hooks 15. This plate terminates, at its lower end. a short distance above the bottom of the chamber 7 so as to provide a passage for the cooling air currents. 16 are drain troughs at the lower ends ofthe baffles 13 for collecting water caused by the melting ice.

By reference to the arrows in Fig. 2 it will be seen that the cooled air currents pass downwardly centrally of the chamber 7 and then outwardly'to the opposite side walls, whence they travel upwardly along the walls to the chamber 10 for re-cooling. It will be ofthe chamber 7.

apparent, therefore, that the lower portion of the chamber 7 is maintained at a relatively low temperature and that ordinarily this most valuable space is not capable of utilization to the best advantage.

The display section which I have provided is arranged to take-advantage of this condition of refrigeration in the lower portion In the present instance I have shown my display section as being constructed separately from the main sec-. tion. Preferably it extends throughout the length of the main section and is of a height substantially greater than its depth from front to rear. Herein its upper end terminates just below the doors 9. As shown, it comprises a bottom wall 17, and a front wall including a forwardly and upwardly inclined portion 18, a vertical portion 19, a rearwardly and upwardly inclined wall portion 20, and end walls 21. If desired, it may be divided into separate chambers by partitions 21. Between the wall portion 20 and the front wall of the main section may be formed a narrow shelf 22 of a width, for example, of three or four inches. Preferably the depth of the section is relatively small such, for example, as twelve inches. In order to consume as little as possible of the limited amount of space between the refrigerator and the counter, the lower inclined wall portion 18 is provided in order to enable the workman to approach nearer the main section than would otherwise be possible. The upper inclined wall portion 20 is made transparent preferably by means of glass doors 2O hinged at their lower ends. Theupper or free ends of these doors are within convenient so that it is only necessary for him to stoop slightly in opening the doors.

In applying the display section, as herein shown, to a refrigerator previously constructed, openings 23 are formed in the front wall at the lower end thereof so as to establish communication between the lower portion of the chamber 7 and-the interior of the display section. The latter is secured in position upon the front wall in any suitable way as bymeans of brackets 24, and preferably suitable packing 25 (Fig. 4:) is provided between the two sections so as to form a tight joint.

It will be apparent that in operation, the

.cold air currents passing downwardly in the central portion of the chamber 7 and then outwardly beneath the bafile plate 14 toward the front wallenter through the opening or openings 23 into the display case and then upwardly therein and out as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2, whence they travel upwardly into the ice chamber 10 for re-cooling. Obviously, therefore, the displav section 18 is refrigerated by utilizing cold air from the main chamber 7, taking the same reach of the workman,

from one of the coldest portions of the chamber so that the refrigeration mainitained in the display case is ample to preserve the meats contained therein.

For supporting the meats, there may be provided trays 26 supported in any suitable but preferably removable. Asshown they are supported in inclined position be neath the hinged doors 20 providing convenient access to the trays.

It will be seen that I have provided for refrigerators of the meat market type a dis play case which may be constructed and maintained at an extremely low cost as compared to the cost and maintenance of separate show cases previously employed for this purpose. Moreover, the arrangement is such that the refrigeration provided is of an efficient character without impairing the eflicient functioning of the refrigerator proper. The case is proportioned and arranged so that it occupies a minimum amount of space forwardly of the refrigerator, and yet enables the display of the cut meats supported in the trays 26 through the transparent up per front wall thereof. The height of the case is such as to render it accessible with the expenditure of a minimum amount of effort and hence with a saving of time on the part of the workman.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a refrigerator for meat markets or the like, the combination with a main storage chamber, of an auxiliary display chamber positioned in the lower front portion of the refrigerator, comprising a bottom wall. end walls, and a front wall, a baffle plate separating said main and display chambers, said baffle plate extending downwardly past the display chamber substantially to the floor of the refrigerator and forming with said floor a passage adaptcdfor the flow of cold air from the main chamber to the display chamber, the front wall of the display chamber having its'upper portion inclined downwardly and outwardly at a slight angle with the vertical front wall of the refrigerator, and a tray mounted in the auxiliary chamber above said opening, said tray stop ping short of the front wall of the display chamber to provide an opening between the tray and the front wall adapted for the passage. upwardly of the cold air coming through said opening into the main chamber.

2. A displaycase for meat market refrigerators -comprising a bottom wall, end walls and a front wall, with an open rear side which is arranged to register with an opening formed at the lower edge of the front wall of a refrigerator so as to communicate with the interior thereof, said display case being of a depth from front to rear approximately one-third of its height, and the front wall of the case having its upper portion inclined rearwardly at an angle of approximately from the vertical and its lower portion inclined downwardly and rearwardly.

3. In a refrigerator for meat markets or the like, the combination with a main storage chamber having a refrigeration chamber in its upper portion, of an auxiliary display chamber positioned in the lower front portion of the refrigerator comprising a bottom wall, end walls, and a front wall having its upper portion inclined downwardly and outwardly at a slight angle with the vertical front wall of the refrigerator, said front wall of the display chamber being so positioned relative to the front wall of the refrigerator that the display chamber has a vertically elongated relatively narrow cross section, the front wall, of the refrigerator be ing constructed adapted for the passage of cold air from the main chamber into the display chamber, and a tray mounted in the auxiliary chamber above said opening, said tray stopping short of the front wall of the display chamber and being inclined downwardly and outwardly so as to provide between the tray and the front wall a passageway for conducting the cold air coming through said opening in the front wall of the refrigerator upwardly'in front of the tray, and thence rearwardly over the tray into the main chamber for passage upwardly to the refrigeration chambers In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

\ CARL FREDBERG.

to provide an opening 

